1. There are a number of answers which I can offer.
a. Duh. The available twinning Unis in Malaysia are (non-exhaustive) University of West England, University of Hertfordshire, Northumbria University, University of Reading, University of Cardiff and Leeds University. Only Leeds is the one with some quality (& they are strict with entry). Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the rest are farcical but definitely not up to the UOL external standard, which is already average in UK (compared with the Internal London Colleges - LSE, UCL, King's... and obviously Oxbridge - also Warwick and Bristol and so on.)
- Why do I say that UOL external is better? : Unseen written exams with a lil' of dissertation/ course work. An unseen written exam is still the no.1 way to test the mettle of a student, in the ways they think and deal with the questions. Coursework? Pay me 100 bucks and I'll do it for you. Chip in another 50 and I'll make sure it's First Class material. You get what I mean. A lot of the above Unis has subjects which are fully evaluated by coursework alone. Well I have heard some places above have OPEN exams which means that you can go in with your notes and textbooks... (Mind you, this is from their own students).
b. Well you have to balance your options for external UOL or for twinning:
For UOL:
- I have stated in "a".
- Its cheaper.
- In the real world, your academic qualification is only a stepping stone to the interview. Your working capability and ethics (and possibility "apple polishing skills") will bring you forward. And these are not things which can be illustrated solely by your academic prowess. So it does not matter where you come from. Choose the one which is cheaper. (Of course I will still choose a Cambridge grad over a local grad - not because the local grad sux or whatever, but because the standard of education received, or at least, a normal potential employer might perceive).
For twinning: You get to chill out of our country. Exposure. Even if you get a Third Class Honours Degree or lower, you can still do the CLP and practice law. So its probably safer if you are into the legal practice life which, as someone had stated above, isn't all that glamorous and can be in fact, torturous.
- Also, the majority of UOL external students are actually rather dumb themselves (hence the low First Classes and Second Uppers) - they know nuts about research... so unless you are a dedicated law student who's willing to do research, this degree is one which you can complete without reading a single case judgment, just by utilizing your wits, understanding and academic preparation. This is bad for practice. A law student that does not read law journals and cases?
- Nevertheless, they have recently added mandatory requirements to complete coursework/dissertations and this would be a starting point to cure the "I know nuts about research" disease.
2. Difference in skills?
- Yes and no. Yes if you look into the majority, UOL students with 2:1s and above will usually whip twinning U students with 2:1s and above. No, because that is not a good way to measure as a substantial number of twinning U grads are incapable of surviving the external UOL onslaught (<50% passes for first and second year exams - every year, all over the world) and has taken the internal route as an alternative.
- ALso, no because it is individual ability which is taken into account. Generalization does not really exist in this area. I have seen external students which are smart and dumb. I have also seen twinning U grads which are dumb and smart.
- So skills-wise is really subjective but if I have to evaluate in a very general way, good UOL external students have a better understanding of the law and the controversies surrounding it while twinning U grads SHOULD have a better grasp of research skills as they have mandatory courseworks (although I do not know how many of them pay/plead/ beg for others to complete it for them - I know I was offered before).
- Employment opportunities? Erm, does not really matter. If you are good, you are good. If you suck, then you suck. Anyway, coming from the above Unis (maybe cept for Leeds) ain't really that cool (Oxbridge, UCL, LSE - those are cool). As an external, there are some prejudices but then again, there are also prejudices against twinning U grads.
So that's my opinion. Hopefully it will be helpful. And it is my opinion. If it does not accord to the opinion of others, well you are entitled to have your own opinions. You can highlight them to me. Don't come hammering me online. Because online, I can't clobber you.
And to aurora, this is a nice thread.
cardiff is better than leeds in law subject.there are some reputable university like manchester,liverpool,exeter and sheffield offer transfer degree into their 2nd and 3rd year.
Jan 11 2009, 08:55 PM
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